2016 traffic data for US airlines and foreign airlines US flights released

The US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today that U.S. airlines and foreign airlines serving the United States carried an all-time high of 928.9 million systemwide (domestic and international) scheduled service passengers in 2016, 3.5 percent more than the previous record high of 897.9 million reached in 2015. The systemwide increase was the result of a 3.3 percent rise from 2015 in the number of passengers on domestic flights (719.0 million in 2016) and 4.0 percent growth from 2015 in passengers on U.S. and foreign airlines’ flights to and from the US (209.9 million in 2016).

US airlines carried 3.3 percent more passengers on domestic flights and 1.7 percent more passengers on international flights in 2016 than in 2015 for a systemwide increase of 3.1 percent. Foreign airlines carried 6.3 percent more passengers to and from the United States than in 2015. The 209.9 million passengers on international flights to and from the United States was a record high, exceeding the previous high set in 2015.

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This annual release includes preliminary data on US carrier scheduled domestic and international service, including from one foreign point to another foreign point, and foreign carrier scheduled international service to and from the United States. BTS regular monthly air traffic releases include data on US carrier scheduled service only. For US domestic service data for 2016, see the BTS December Air Traffic press release.

Airlines with Most Passengers in 2016

Southwest Airlines carried more total system passengers in 2016 than any other US airline. American Airlines carried more passengers on international flights to and from the U.S. in 2016 than any other US or foreign carrier. British Airways carried the most passengers on flights to and from the US of any foreign airline.

US Airports with Most Passengers in 2016

More total system passengers boarded planes in 2016 at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International than at any other US airport. More passengers boarded international flights at New York John F. Kennedy than at any other US airport.